> The Harmonic Algorithm 1 -- Foreword

Hi, I'm Oscar! You're reading the first post of my ongoing odyssey exploring my music/theory/technology project 'The Harmonic Algorithm'.

While I've spent countless hours building The Harmonic Algorithm and enjoying creating music with it, I always find the project challenging to talk about -- I've been trying to figure out why.

The Harmonic Algorithm is a juxtaposition of composition, musicianship, sound design and programming, which are four individual topics that I'll talk about enthusiastically and endlessly. You'd think that the deeply personal integration of how I interact with these four things would be easy to talk about.

I could start from the top, with a grand overview of what it all does with epic musical demonstration.

I could start from the bottom, exploring the nuanced implementation of any of hundreds of fine tuned musical functions, demonstrating the subtle impacts on harmonic structure though examples.

I could start with a musical performance -- just screen share and jam.

I could start with the composition, and talk about constructing form and meaning from the harmonic elements produced by the algorithm.

But while I am committed to communicate the coolness and musical adventure of what I've built, I'm not compelled by any of these approaches. I'm looking for something different.

I haven't quite figured it out yet, but I'm determined to do it -- so let's get started!

Oscar